COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 4, 2013) - The current U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team Weekly update released on March 4 includes briefs on U.S. players.

TOM BLACK ADDED TO NATIONAL TEAM STAFF: Tom Black, the current head coach of the Loyola Marymount University women’s volleyball team, has accepted an assistant coach position with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, as announced by head coach Karch Kiraly on Monday. “The Olympic Games is our sport’s biggest stage, and I am truly honored and humbled to work alongside Karch and his staff throughout this quad,” Black said. “Karch is an iconic figure in our sport, but over the past three years I have had the privilege of getting to know him well while working closely with him as a coach, and there is no better person to lead this program toward the 2016 Games. I am so excited to learn under Karch, as well as provide my best efforts for our program and these wonderful athletes in the USA gym.” Black, who joins Kiraly and assistant coach Reed Sunahara on the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team coaching staff, will continue in his head coach role at LMU while serving on the Team USA staff for the first two years of the Olympic quadrennial before taking a sabbatical at LMU for the 2015 season. For the complete release, click here.

A LOOK AHEAD: Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), a middle blocker for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, has helped her Azerbaijan club team Rabita Baku into the CEV Champions League semifinals and will face Italy’s Unendo Yamamay Busto Arsizio on March 9. The Italian team has Americans Juliann Faucette (San Diego) and Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, Calif.) competing in the semifinal match. The match can be seen live online at 4 a.m. PT on March 9 by clicking here. The winner will face the opposite semifinal victor between Turkish rivals Vakifbank Istanbul and Galatasaray Daikin Istanbul in the championship match on March 10.

HOOKER WITH RUSSIA’S DINAMO KRASNODAR: Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas), who earned the Best Spiker Award at the 2012 Olympic Games while helping the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team to the silver medal, is competing for Dinamo Krasnodar in the Russia Super League this winter. In the CEV Challenge Cup, Krasnodar defeated LP Salo 25-14, 25-15, 15-18 on March 2 to sweep the home-and-home series of the semifinal round to advance to the final round. Hooker scored eight points in the victory with four kills, two blocks and two aces. Krasnodar will now face Italy’s Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza in the home-and-home series finals with dates to be set. Krasnodar, now in fifth place in the league standings, faces 10th-place Ufimochka-UGNTU (4-13, 12 points) in its next Russia Super League match.

LARSON-BURBACH, BOWN WITH RUSSIA’S DINAMO KAZAN: Jordan Larson-Burbach (Hooper, Neb.) and Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.), who have each won an Olympic silver medal with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, are competing for Dinamo Kazan in the Russia Super League. In the Russia Super League, league-leader Kazan (17-0, 45 points) takes on seventh-place Tyumen (7-10, 24 points) on March 14 in its next Russia Super League match after a 20-day break from the regular-season schedule. During the hiatus Dinamo Kazan will play Odintsovo in a friendly match on either March 6 or March 7 in Odintsovo. Dinamo Kazan has reported on its Facebook page that Larson-Burbach has extended her playing contract with the Russian club through the 2013-14 season. She has already helped Dinamo Kazan to two Russian championships and two national cups.

AKINRADEWO WITH AZERBAIJAN’S RABITA BAKU: Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), a silver medalist with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team at the 2012 Olympic Games, is competing for Rabita Baku in the Azerbaijan Super League. In the Azerbaijan Super League, Rabita Baku stopped Baki Azeryolservis 25-17, 25-23, 23-25, 25-12 on Feb. 28. Rabita Baku remains in first place with 37 points, or two points more than Igtisadchi despite playing one less match during the regular season. In CEV Champions League action, Rabita Baku has advanced to its second CEV Champions League semifinal and will face Italy’s Unendo Yamamay Busto Arsizio on March 9.

HODGE, WILSON WITH AZERBAIJAN’S AZERRAIL BAKU: Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.), a silver medalist on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is playing for Azerbaijan’s Azerrail Baku in 2012-2013 along with fellow Penn State University alum Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.). In the Azerbaijan Super League, Azerrail gained a 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 victory over second-place Igtisadchi on Feb. 28. Azzerail swept through Lokomotiv Baladzhary 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 on March 3. With the two victories during the week, Azerrail continues to hold third place in the league standings with 30 points, or five points behind second-place Igtisadchi and seven points behind league-leader Rabita Baku.

METCALF WITH AZERBAIJAN’S IGTISADCHI BAKU: Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa), an opposite on the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is playing for Igtisadchi Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League in 2012-2013. In the Azerbaijan Super League, Igtisadchi lost to third-place Azerrail 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 on Feb. 28. To view a photo gallery of the match, click here. Igtisadchi rebounded with a 25-19, 25-15, 25-19 victory over Telecom on March 3 to continue holding second place in the league standings.

TAMAS WITH AZERBAIJAN’S BAKI AZERYOLSERVIS: Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.), a 2008 silver medalist with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is playing for Baki Azeryolservis of the Azerbaijan Super League in 2012-2013. Baki Azeryolservis lost to league-leader Rabita Baku 25-17, 25-23, 23-25, 25-12 on Feb. 28.

MIYASHIRO, SPICER WITH AZERBAIJAN’S LOKOMOTIV BAKU: Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii), a silver medalist with the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, signed mid-season with Azerbaijan’s Lokomotiv Baku. Lokomotiv Baku dropped a 25-19, 25-15, 25-19 match to second-place Igtisadachi on March 3. Lokomotiv remains in fourth place in the league standings with 22 points through the 17th stop.

LLOYD, FAUCETTE WITH ITALY’S YAMAMAY BUSTO ARSIZIO: Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, Calif.), a setter with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is competing in the Italian Serie A1 league with Unendo Yamamay Busto Arsizio in 2012-2013 along with American Juliann Faucette (San Diego). Both athletes played for Epic Volleyball Club in San Diego as juniors before going separate ways at the collegiate level. In the Italian Serie A1 regular season, Busto Arsizio topped Duck Farm Chieri Torino 25-14, 28-30, 25-17, 25-27 on March 2. Neither Faucette or Lloyd played in the match. Busto Arsizio (12-3, 37 points), which holds a seven-point lead over second-place Foppapedretti Bergamo, resumes Italian Serie A1 action on March 21 versus third-place McCarnaghi Villa Cortese (8-7, 26 points). Busto Arsizio, which won the CEV Cup last year, will be making its first-ever trip to the CEV Champions League semifinals in its first year in the league. The squad will meet its second Azerbaijan team in a row, this time Rabita Baku on March 9 in the semifinal round.

KLINEMAN WITH ITALY’S ASYSTEL McCARNAGHI VILLA CORTESE: Alix Klineman (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) returns to the Italian Serie A1 for a second season, but will compete for Asystel McCarnaghi Villa Cortese in 2012-2013. In the Italian Serie A1, Villa Cortese edged seventh-place Chateau D’Ax Urbino 25-20, 26-28, 25-21, 19-25, 15-11 on March 3. Klineman collected 14 points with 10 kills on 34 attacks, three blocks and an ace in a match in which she started all but the fourth set. She added a 46 positive reception percent on 13 chances. Villa Cortese (8-7, 26 points), which moved up to third place place following the victory, takes on league-leader Unendo Yamamay Busto Arsizio (12-3, 37 points) on March 21 in its next league match which is delayed due to its opponent’s participation in the CEV Champions League final round March 9-10.

GIBBEMEYER WITH ITALY’S VOLLEY PESARO: Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.), a middle blocker with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is competing for KGS Robursport Volley Pesaro in the Italian Serie A1 league in 2012-2013. Pesaro dropped a 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23 decision to Imoco Volley Conegliano on March 3. Gibbemeyer recorded six kills on 13 attacks, three blocks and an ace for 10 points in the loss. Pesaro (6-9, 16 points), which remains in eighth place, takes 10th-place Volley 2002 Forli Bologna (2-12, 7 points) on March 10.

BERG WITH TURKEY’S FENERBAHCE: Lindsey Berg (Honolulu), a two-time Olympic Games silver medalist with the U.S. and three-time Olympian, signed to play with Fenerbahce in the Turkish League mid-way through the regular season. In CEV Cup action, Fenerbahce dropped consecutive five-set matches to Poland’s Bank BPS Fakro Muszyna in the home-and-home final round to finish second. On Feb. 27, Fenerbahce nearly rallied from a two-set deficit, but ended with a 26-24, 26-24, 19-25, 23-25, 15-11 loss. Muszyna took a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker, and after Fenerbahce pulled to within two at 10-8, finished off the set. Berg set her squad to a 39 kill percent for the match. In the rematch on March 2, Muszyna held off Fenerbahce 25-18, 19-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-11. Muszyna gained a 10-3 margin in the deciding fifth set before claiming the hard fought series victory. Berg pushed Fenerbahce to a 37 kill percent for the match. In the Turkish League, Fenerbahce has had its last two matches – Feb. 24 versus Nilufer Bld. And March 3 versus Galatasaray – postponed due to its participation in the CEV Cup final round.

RICHARDS HILDEBRAND WITH TURKEY’S BAKIRKOY BELEDIYE YESILYURT: Kristin Richards Hildebrand (Orem, Utah), alternate for both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Teams, is competing for Bakirkoy Belediye Yesilyurt in the Turkish League. Yesilyurt lost to Sariyer 25-14, 25-20, 25-21 on March 3 as Richards Hildebrand notched eight points all on kills coming from 27 attacks. She added a 54 positive reception percent in the match on a team-high 24 chances. Yesilyurt returns to action on March 10 versus Bursa B. Sehir Bld.

TOM WITH BRAZIL’S UNILEVER: Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah), a four-time U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball selection with two silver medals, is playing this winter with Unilever in Brazil’s Superliga. Unilever, the top seed in the playoffs, opened the quarterfinals with a 25-19, 25-13, 25-18 victory over eighth-seed Rio Do Sul on Feb. 26. Unilever completed the quarterfinal best-of-three series sweep with a 25-15, 25-13, 25-17 victory on March 2. Tom was absent from the lineup due to injury in both matches.

SCOTT-ARRUDA WITH BRAZIL’S BANANA BOAT: Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.), the only five-time U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team selection and a two-time Olympic Games silver medalist, joined Banana Boat/Praia Clube in mid-season of the Brazil Superliga. Banana Boat/Praia Clube opened the quarterfinals with a 25-23, 25-15, 15-25, 25-21 loss to fifth-seed Sesi Sao Paolo on Feb. 25. Scott-Arruda scored four points in the loss. Banana Boat/Praia Clube bounced back to capture a 26-24, 25-20, 25-22 victory at home on March 1. Scott-Arruda tied for team-high scoring honors with 11 points via eight kills on 16 attacks. The deciding match of the best-of-three series will be played on March 4 at Praia Clube’s home court in Uberlandia, Brazil.

FAWCETT WITH KOREA EXPRESSWAY IN KOREA LEAGUE: Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), an opposite with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is competing with Korea Expressway in the Korean professional league. Korea Expressway swept Heungkuk 25-23, 25-10, 25-13 on Feb. 27 as Fawcett scored a match-high 23 points with 15 kills, four aces and four blocks. In its second match of the week, Korea Expressway lost to KGC Ginseng 25-19, 25-21, 26-24 on March 1. Fawcett notched 25 points in the match, including 23 kills on 49 attacks and two blocks. Korea Expressway resumes league action on March 5 versus IBK.

DAVIS WITH GERMANY’S DRESDNER SC: Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.), a two-time Olympic Games silver medalist as a libero with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, joined Dresdner SC late in the 2012-13 season. Dresdner, now in third place (32-10, 55-20), returns to action on March 9 against Kopenicker SC Berlin.

THOMPSON WITH POLAND’S BUDOWLANI LODZ: Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.), a setter on the 2012 silver medalist U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is playing for Budowlani Lodz of the Orlen Liga in Poland for 2012-2013. Budowlani Lodz finished sixth in the Orlen Liga regular season and will face BKS Aluprof Bielsko Biala in the quarterfinal round starting on March 16.

ALISHA GLASS WITH PUERTO RICO’S CAGUAS: Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), a setter for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball team, has transferred to compete in the Puerto Rico Super League with Caguas after playing earlier this year for Modena of Italy’s Serie A1 division before it ceased competition this season. After a loss last week, Caguas rebounded to top Bayamon 25-22, 25-16, 25-22 on Feb. 26 as Glass secured 11 assists in the victory. Caguas was unable to create momentum as it dropped a four-set match to Ponce on March 2. Glass provided a double-double of 21 assists and 16 digs along with three points in the loss. Caguas, now 6-5 overall, is in fifth place in the 10-team league.

JONES WITH PUERTO RICO’S CATANO: Jessica Jones (Naperville, Ill.), a middle blocker with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, is competing for Catano in the Puerto Rico Super League this season. Catano lost to Humacao in three sets on Feb. 26 as Jones was held to eight points. Catano bounced back from its first loss of the season with a three-set win over Carolina on March 1 with Jones piling on a match-high 18 points, including six blocks. Catano leads the league with a 10-1 record.

OTHER AMERICANS IN PUERTO RICO: Tabi Love charted a team-high 17 points in helping Caguas to a three-set win over Bayamon on Feb. 26, while teammate Erin Moore added 14 points. Kelly Murphy led Bayamon with 19 points in the loss, while Lauren Cook provided 13 assists, eight digs and four points…Gina Mancuso scored a team-high 24 points in leading Ponce to a four-set win over Mayaguez on Feb. 26. Shonda Cole led Mayaguez with 26 points, while Kendall Bateman charted 13 assists and 12 digs in the loss…Falyn Fonoimoana and Emily Brown scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, as Humacao upset Catano on Feb. 26. Jessica Swarbrick added seven points in the victory…Monique Mead tallied 14 points and Becky Perry chipped in 12 points as Carolina blanked Guaynabo on Feb. 27. Lindsay Fletemier added nine points in the victory. Julie Bennett and Alaina Bergsma totaled 10 points each in the loss, and Caitlyn Donahue notched a double-double of 11 assists and 10 digs…Rachael Kidder contributed a match-high 28 points in aiding Juncos to a come-from-behind five-set victory over Ponce on Feb. 28. Gina Mancuso tallied 21 points and Jasmine Norton brought in 14 points in the loss…Falyn Fonoimoana collected 24 points and Jessica Swarbrick added 15 points in Humacao’s four-set win over Bayamon on Feb. 28. Emily Brown chipped in 12 points in the victory. Kelly Murphy led Bayamon with 25 points in the loss and Lauren Cook provided 27 assists and five points…Kim Willoughby pocketed a team-high 16 points in leading Corozal to a three-set win over Mayaguez on March 1… Shannon Wingate reached 10 points in helping Catano to a three-set win over Carolina on March 1. Lindsay Fletemier tallied nine points for Carolina, followed by Monique Mead’s eight points. Gina Mancuso contributed 1 points in helping Ponce to a four-set win over Caguas on March 2, while Jasmine Norton chipped in 10 points. Tabi Love charted 16 points for Caguas in the loss. Kelly Murphy scored 20 points in helping Bayamon to a four-set victory over Guaynabo on March 2. Lauren Cook set her team with 15 assists to go with five points in the victory. Alaina Bergsma paced Guaynabo with 20 points in the loss, followed by 16 points by Julie Bennett. Caitlyn Donahue was credited with 10 assists, 20 digs and five points in the loss.